Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai meets PM Modi, says govt working to fulfil pre-poll promises

Sai informed PM Modi that housing approval has been granted to over 18 lakh families in Chhattisgarh under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. He also said that the government is fulfilling its commitment to purchase 21 quintals of paddy per acre from farmers at Rs 3,100 per quintal. The Baghel government was purchasing 15 quintals per acre, which the Sai government has increased to 21, as per the BJP’s pre-poll promise.

Sai added that the two-year pending bonus of more than Rs 3,716 crore will be disbursed to farmers on December 25, the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which will be celebrated as National Good Governance Day by the state. Paddy farmers are a major political constituency in the state and possess a swing factor that can impact election results.

With just months to go for the Lok Sabha polls, these measures are being showcased by the Sai government as the fulfilment of “Modi’s guarantee”, a catchword that the party had begun to use frequently in the run-up to the just-concluded Assembly polls in five states.

Sai also discussed the allocation of portfolios to the newly-appointed Cabinet ministers in the state.

The chief minister, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Arun Sao and Vijay Sharma, also thanked PM Modi for releasing an additional instalment of more than Rs 2,485 crore to Chhattisgarh and giving permission to take 15 lakh metric tons of parboiled rice into the central pool. He said that funds received from the central government will enhance the state government’s financial backing for social welfare and infrastructure development initiatives.

Sai also informed PM Modi that in the supplementary budget, provision of funds has been made for schemes like Mahtari Vandan Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, Krishak Jeevan Jyoti Yojana, Social Security Pension etc.